Level 3 diploma

Veterinary Nursing

If you have the ambition of becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse then look no further that the Vetskill Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal). This qualification will provide you with the practical competence and underpinning knowledge required to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. 

The course is delivered by a team of highly motivated and experienced Veterinary Nurses with a passion for education and training.

Nurses in surgery
Study time
1 day p/w
Start date
September/March
Duration
30 - 36 months
Group of nurses studying
The role of a veterinary Nurse

What does a Veterinary Nurse do?

A Veterinary Nurse is a key member of the veterinary team, providing expert nursing care for sick animals. They are registered professionals and are regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) who set standards including a Code of Professional Conduct. 

royal college of veterinary surgeons

Who and what are the RCVS?

The RCVS is a professional regulatory body that maintains a Register of Veterinary Nurses. They provide support to the nursing care of animals under veterinary direction, to undertake certain treatments and procedures that are controlled by law under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

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RCVS logo
RCVS logo
your learner journey

See what's in store!

Embarking on your clinical career is an exciting journey, and we will be here every step of the way to support you.

Sign me up!
01.
APPLICATION & PRE-ASSESSMENT

Please complete an application form. You must complete a pre-assessment, provide copies of your GCSE certifications and attend an interview with the Centre (this can be completed online)

02.
INDUCTION

All paperwork is completed for registration with the awarding body and regulatory body. Your Student Veterinary Nurse training cannot start until your registration is complete.

03.
professional veterinary nursing responsibilities

This unit provides the knowledge relating to health and safety within the veterinary practice, as well as legal and ethical duties and professional issues, to prepare for the professional veterinary nursing responsibilities

unit vn01
04.
diagnostic principles

This unit enables students to develop an understanding of the key principles of imaging and laboratory techniques to support the Veterinary Surgeon in making diagnoses.

unit vn02
05.
principles of veterinary nursing care 1

This unit provides students with the theoretical underpinning knowledge relating to the care of patients in the veterinary environment.

unit vn03
06.
pharmacology & dispensary management

This unit is intended to develop an understanding of basic pharmacological principles and their application to safe patient care.

unit vn04
07.
formative practical assessment

This is the half way mark yippee!! A formative practical skills assessment will take place to check your knowledge.

08.
anaesthesia and theAtre nursing skills

This unit is intended to develop an understanding of the principles of anaesthesia and theatre practice.

unit vn06
09.
life stage nursing care and support

This unit provides an understanding of the body’s responses to disease, trauma and pathological change.

unit vn07
10.
principles of veterinary nursing care & surgical nursing and patient care

This unit aims to build upon the knowledge gained from Nursing Care 1 and Nursing Care 2. Students will gain specialised knowledge in surgical nursing.

unit vn08
11.
reach gateway

Once all assessments are passed and the e-portfolio is completed then students can be entered for the end point assessment.

12.
end point assessments

Professional Discussion - A structured discussion between the examiner and the student that includes competent based questions. This allows the student to demonstrate their knowledge of different scenarios.

13.
end point assessments

Licence to Practise Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
This is practical assessments to assess the students’ knowledge, skills and behaviours against the apprenticeship standards and the RCVS day one skills for Veterinary Nurses

14.
practical log - e-portfolio

The e-portfolio is a progressive archive of competency, which records assessment of the Student Veterinary Nurse’s competency over the period of training. The student will accurately map their evidence to the RCVS Day One Skills and to VetSkill criteria.

15.
journey complete!

That’s it you're finished! Mission complete! Just one last step once achieved all units and end point assessment - to apply to the RCVS to be on the register of Veterinary Nurses. Once this is done you are a fully-fledged RVN ready to start a new journey! ☺

16.
Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) qualification

Embedded within this qualification is the content required to become a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) for Companion Animals. A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) is a legal category of professionally qualified persons who, under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, are entitled to prescribe and/or supply certain veterinary medicines.

These medicines are categorised as prescription-only medicines prescribed by a veterinary surgeon, pharmacist or suitably qualified person(POM-VPS), and non-food animal non-prescription medicines supplied by aveterinary surgeon, pharmacist or suitably qualified person (NFA-VPS). The veterinary medicinal products an SQP is entitled to prescribe and/or supply depends on the scope of the registration they hold.

Group of nurses working together in class
Entry requirements

What do you need?

Students must be at least 16 years of age and hold 5 GCSEs to include Maths, English language and Science of grade A*-C (or 9-4) or equivalent. If you do not meet the GCSE requirements, there are alternative qualifications that may be acceptable, such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths being acceptable equivalents to GSCEs in English Language and Mathematics.

Do I need to be employed?

Students must be employed in a RCVS approved Veterinary Training Practice for at least 30hrs per week to complete the course. Please see here for a list of approve training practices:

Approved Training Practices - Professionals (rcvs.org.uk)

Over the duration of the course, the student will work in a veterinary setting alongside a Clinical Supervisor who will be an RVN or MRCVS (Veterinary Surgeon). Students will need to complete a minimum of 2990 hours in a veterinary practice before they are able to apply to be on the register as a qualified Veterinary Nurse.

course funding

How do I make a payment?

This course is funded through an Apprenticeship for anyone working in England 50% of the time. Smaller employers that do not pay into the levy will be asked to ‘co-invest’ for the payment of the tuition fees and this is currently 5% of the fees.Anyone that does not match this criteria can pay directly to the Centre in instalments (please contact us for more details)

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Woman making a payment

What is a training practice?

An Approved Training Practice (TP) is a Veterinary Practice approved as an RCVS Training Practice where a Student Veterinary Nurse will be employed for a minimum of 30hrs per week in order to complete their practical training and their evidence for their ePortfolio.

Become a training practice
Our tutors

Learn from
industry experts

Chester Veterinary Training Centre team consists of industry professional Veterinary Nurses with several years of experience, including first opinion, referral nursing, locum Nursing, Head Nursing, practice management and behaviour.

Meet your tutors
Eve our internal Quality AssurerThomas one of our tutors
Happy man on laptop
CAREER PATHWAYS & PROGRESSION

What can I do with this qualification?

On successful completion of the End Point Assessment, the learner will be awarded the RCVS – accredited Licence to Practise Veterinary Nursing qualification at Level 3.

  • Students may progress onto other higher-level qualifications within the sector including the BSc Veterinary Nursing
  • Referral nurse
  • Specialise is an area of nursing – anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, surgical nurse
  • Locum vet nursing
  • Practice Manager or Director
  • Veterinary Recruitment
  • Charity work
Learn more

Frequently asked questions

How long will the course take?

Typically, the course will take 30 – 36 months to complete; this includes the two years theoretical training and the end point assessment.

What is the total qualification time?

The expected number of hours required by a student to complete this qualification is 4200 hours.

What level is the course?

This is a Further Education course Diploma course at level 3

How is the qualification assessed?

MCQs per module, E-portfolio covering the practical aspects and an end point assessment, which includes a professional discussion and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Where is the campus?

Unit 12, Telford Court, Gates Lane, Chester, CH16LT

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